The first ten chapters catalogs Israel's organizational arrangements
for the march to the promised land. The next 10 chapters tell us that Israel,
well organized as she now was, wandered in the wilderness 38 years. Then
the last section details the seduction of Israel by the false prophet Balaam,
more of God's judgments, and more stages in her wanderings in the wilderness.
Not exactly upbuilding reading, nor uplifting history. But Numbers has
its place in Scripture. 1 Corinthians 10:11 tells us Now these things happened
to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon
whom the ends of the ages have come. What can we learn from Numbers? What
was it that Israel itself was to learn from the wanderings in the wilderness?

Israel had cried out to God in Egypt. But now they were not complaining
about the Egyptians. Rather, they were complaining about the food God gave
them. They were also complaining about the leaders God appointed for them.
Manna wasn't good enough, and neither was Moses. The bread from heaven
didn't tickle the palate like
the tasty garlic and onions of Egypt. And this Moses, couldn't some of
them lead the people better than he? Well, Moses wasn't perfect. And Yahweh's
provision of manna wasn't nearly as titillating as the treats on the Egyptian
table. But Moses and manna were the means Jehovah had provided for their
journey to the promised land. And now, Numbers tells us, the people rejected
them. As Numbers 14:4 tells us, they presumptuously said Let US appoint
a leader ... . They rebelled against Moses, but in so doing they rebelled
against the Lord.

They were punished by wandering in the wilderness 40 years. And there
was yet another reason for that wilderness wandering. The spies sent ahead
to spy out the land were excited by the grapes of Canaan. But they still
came back with a negative report. Their fear, in the end, was greater than
their faith. So they wandered in the wilderness 40 years, till their bodies
wore out. They died in the wilderness and were buried in the wilderness.

Jehovah's Witnesses, 120 years ago you rejected the imperfect leaders of
the church, and chose leaders to suit your appetite. The Lord's table that
sustained the church for 1800 years, and the leaders He had appointed,
were no longer enough. The diet provided by your self-appointed prophets,
the promises of an early entrance into
paradise, seemed much more tasty than the bitter or bland table of Christendom.

Invisible presence in 1874, the end of the world's kingdoms in 1914,
paradise in 1925, the 1000 year reign in 1975 --- all these dishes were
far more tantalizing than the stale bread of the church. But in the end
what was it that the self-appointed 'faithful and
discreet slave' had fed you and your ancestors? Was this bread from heaven
-- or ashes? Jehovah's Witnesses, dangling the grapes of Eshcol in front
of Israel did not create true faith. In the end their fear overcame what
little faith they had in Jehovah's promises. Don't be like them. Promises
of paradise and fear of Armageddon don't
build lasting faith. ONE generation of Israel dropped dead in the Sinai
wilderness.

THREE generations of Jehovah's Witnesses have died wandering in the
Watchtower wilderness. Don't be the fourth. Millions of feet tramped countless
millions of miles but in the end they were no closer to the promised land.
Don't die in a false hope. Jehovah vindicated HIS prophet Moses, imperfect
as he was, by having Moses foretell that the people's wandering would last
one generation, 40 years.

Has Jehovah vindicated YOUR prophet, the 'faithful and discreet slave'?
Was it not this same 'slave' that told the last 3 generations of Jehovah's
Witnesses that THEIR generation would be the last, that they themselves
would survive Armageddon into God's new order?

Israel rejected Moses, and according to Num.14:10, would have stoned Joshua
too. But God's gracious and glorious appearance saved them from killing
the one who would ultimately bring them into the land. Jehovah's Witnesses,
you have rejected your Moses and Joshua, your prophet and leader -- Jesus.
It is He, according to Romans 5, who can give us peace with God. No paradise
can provide that. And it is this Joshua/Jesus who alone gives hope that
does not lead to disappointment -- Rom.5:5.

Check our website for more information on the past promises of the Watchtower.
Hit the designated link The Prophetic Powers
of the Watchtower. Find out for yourself whether the 'slave' has REALLY
been faithful and discreet in feeding the past 3 generations of Jehovah's
Witnesses.